Police Investigating Death of Actress and Rapper of Group Blaque

Authorities in Georgia are investigating the death of an Atlanta rapper and actress who was killed late Friday when she was hit by a car while standing in a roadway, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Natina Reed, 32, was a member of the R&B girl group Blaque and was known for her performance in the 2000 cheerleader movie “Bring It On.” Her death has been determined to be accidental, with the driver of the car notifying authorities soon after the collision. The incident was erroneously reported as a hit-and-run in some media reports.

Authorities in Gwinnett County were seeking information to help explain the accident, the story reports.

“Gwinnett County police would like to speak to ‘anyone who might have information about anything that could help us determine why she was there, anything to help us understand how this came together,’ said police spokesman Sgt. Rich Long,” the report says.

Long added: “As of right now, it does not appear that the driver has any fault in this event.” He noted that the driver contacted police after the accident, and said the driver was not expected to be charged. He did not identify the driver.

“Long corrected earlier reports on MTV.com and Vibe.com and in multiple Twitter postings that the death was caused by a hit-and-run driver,” the story reports. “Reed, a 32-year-old protege of the late TLC singer Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes, would have celebrated her 33rd birthday Sunday.”

The report adds: “Long said investigators were still trying to determine why Reed was in the roadway and whether she was crossing or walking alongside it. The spokesman said CPR was performed at the scene and Reed was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m.”

The R&B group Blaque, which also includes Shamari Fears-DeVoe and Brandi Williams, along with singer Erica Pullins, had reportedly reunited and was working on a new album and a reality show.

Fears-DeVoe and Williams released a statement saying: “Natina continuously embodied the pioneering spirit of Blaque and her undeniable creativity touched the hearts of fans everywhere. Natina was a mother, sister, accomplished songwriter, artist and friend.”

The report adds: “Billboard named Blaque as the 4th Best New Artist in 1999. Lopes signed Blaque, whose hits included ‘808’ and ‘Bring It All to Me,’ to her Left Eye Productions label. Lopes was killed in 2002 in a car crash in La Ceiba, Honduras.”

Reed is survived by a 10-year-old son, Tren Brown, from a relationship with rapper Kurupt, the report notes.